Frame for securing wall coverings



April 12, 1938. w. I .BONNELL 2,114,044

FRAME FOR SECURING WALL COVERINGS Filed April 17, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 April 12, 1938 l w. L. BONNELL 2,114,044

FRAME FOR SECURNG WALL COVERINGS Filed April 17, 1936 2 sheetsfsheet .2A

Patented Apr. 1938 viiru'nizo STATE FRAME FOR SECURING WALL COVERINGS William L. Bonnell, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to B & T Floor Company; Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application 4Apri; 17, 1936, seal No. 74,977

6 Claims.

v'lhis invention relates to an improved frame for facilitating the securing of wall coverings in connection with wall surfaces, and an outstanding object thereof resides in the provision ,5 of aisimple, easily applied and ornamental frame structure formed for connection with wall surfaces and provided with registering grooves or recesses for the reception of the marginal portions of linoleum or other similar panels employed as a wall covering.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a metallic frame structure which will serve to mount, protect and impart an attractive appearance to wainscoting panels of linoleum, or other similar composition materials. l

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a framestructure for the purpose set forth wherein improved corner strips are provided for connecting linoleum panels withonset or angularly relatedwall surfaces, the said strips being so designed as to protect the corners, to ,improve the appearance of the panels when actively positioned, and to securely retain such ypanels against displacement.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved wall panel frame structure comprising the pres-" .ent invention and disclosing the same actively positioned in connectionwith Wall surfaces; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionalview taken through one of the inner corner strips on the 1 plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3is a similar view taken through an outer corner stripcn the plane disclosed by the line III- III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line IV-IY of Fig. 1 and disclosing the cross sec- -tional configuration of the upper molding or finishing strip;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the upper end of one of the inner corner strips and itsassociated cap member, the plane of the gure being indicated by the line V--V of Fig. 1: Y Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken through one ofthe vertical. separating strips employed in connecting the vertical edges of adjoining wall panels, the plane of the figure .being disclosed by the line VI-VI of Fig. I;

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view on the line VII-VII of Fig. 1 and disclosing the upper end of the outer corner strip and its associated cap member;

(ci. zii- 74) Y.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view oi the inner. corner strip; L Y

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the outer corner strip; f x

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the cap member used in connection with'the upper end of an inner corner strip; n

Fig. 11 is a similar view ofthe cap member disclosed in Fig. 10 from the Vopposite side thereof ;A

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the cap member used in connection' with the outer corner strip;

Fig. 13 is a similar yview looking toward the opposite side of the cap member disclosed in- Fig.4 '12; ,f

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of one of the vertical separating strips; f

Fig. 15 is a perspective viewofanishingor molding strip used along the upper horizontal' edges of a wall panel;

Fig. 16 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view taken ythrough the floor strips; v

Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view of the oor strip. vReferring more particularly to the. drawings, 4the improved frame comprehends the provision of inner corner strips, indicated at I, and outer corner strips, indicated at 2. These vstrips are formed preferably from extrudedlengths of metal. aluminum, or alloys thereof, being quite commonly used. Inner corner strip I is formed to linclude a body 3 having a concaved outer face I, and integral wing extensions 5 project from the body 3 in 90 degree angular relationship with respect to each other. The wing extensions include back faces 6' which directly engage withthe angularly related'wall surfaces 1. AScrews 8, or the like, may pass'through openings formed in said wing extensions and penetrate the adjacent walls to securely fasten the said inner strips in vertical upright positions in the inner corner of a wall formed by the angularly related wall surfaces. The body 3 of each of the strips I includes forwardly projecting flanges 9 which are spaced from the wing extensions to produce longitudinally extending grooves I0 inv which `are received the vertical edges II of linoleum or other composition wall covering panels I2, the said panels extending over the wing extensions 5 so as to conceal the latter from exterior view and likewise cover the fastening elements' carried in connection with said wing extensions. The weight 'of the strips I may be reduced by providing therein intermediate and outer vertically extending dovetail grooves I3 and I4 respectively so that excess weight and unneeded material may be eliminated or minimized.

The outer corner strips are of similar construction, but the said outer strips are formedvto include substantially convex body portions I5 which surround, protect and conceal the sharp corners I6 of the angularly related outwardly projecting wall surfaces 1. Each of the outer corner strips includes longitudinally extending wing plates I1 formed integrally with the body portions I5 and co-extensive therewith, each wing plate being provided with openings for the reception of fas- `tenng screws I8 by which the outer plates are directly securedto the wall surfaces. The body portions I5 have also formed therewith longitudinally extending anges I9 which are spaced from thev outer surfaces of the wing plates and produce vertically extending grooves 20, corresponding to the'grooves I0, and adapted to receive and conceal the outer verticallyextending edge portions of the wall panels I2. In this instance, the wing extensions 5 and the plates I1 have been shown as of uniform. cross sectional thickness throughout their width a'nd length. It is obvious, however, that these members may be caused to taper to a feathered outer edge in order to avoid creasing the linoleum panels where the latter overlap the outer edge of said wing members.

Between the corners or terminating ends of a wall surface, I preferably employ a plurality of vertical panel producing or separating strips 2l, which are likewise formed from the same kind of extruded metal as the corner strips I and 2 and are of the same length as the latter. The strips 2l comprise flat plate-like bodies 22 and, as shown in Fig. 6, each of said plates is provided with a plurality of vertically extending, parallel, transversely spaced ribs 23, which are longitudinally recessed or grooved as at 24 for the reception of the vertical edges of contiguous wall panels I2 and also for relatively narrow vertically extending panelling strips 25 whichv conceal that portionpf the metallic strips 2I lying between the ribs 23. Screws or the like 26 are used to connect the strips 2l with the adjacent wall surfaces 1, the said screws being concealed by the panelling strips 25. It will be appreciated that the strips 2| may be appropriately spaced in order to produce wall panels of desired width.

The upper horizontal edges of the wall panels I2 are secured and protected by means of horizontally extending molding strips 21, also formed from. an extruded metal. The vertical cross sectional formation of these strips is best shown in Fig. 4,.wherein it will be noted that each of said molding strips includes a horizontally disposed body portion 28 which is -spaced from the wall surface 1 and terminates along its upper edge in an angularly directed foot extension 29 and along its lower horizontal edge in a depending wing plate 30 which is co-extensive with the full length of the body portion 28, the said wing plate being provided at intervals with openings for the reception of fastening screws 3l, which provides for the secure retention of the molding strips in connection with the wall surface 1 in horizontal po. sitions governed Aby the upper terminating ends of the strips I, 2 and 2I. The body portion 29 in the vertical plane of its outer surface is provided with a depending longitudinally extending rib 32 which forms a longitudinal groove 33, in which is received the upper edges of the wall panels I2 with which the molding strips engage.

Likewise, as shown in Fig. 16, extruded metallic floor strips 34 are provided. These strips are of substantially right angled formation and include vertical faces 35 which engage with the wall -1 and horizontal faces 3B which engage with the upper surface of the flooring 31. Each of the strips 34 includes a longitudinally extending, relatively angularly disposed vertical wing extension 38 and a horizontal wing extension 33. The wing extension 38 has its upper edge grooved longitudinally and horizontally as at 40 for the reception of the lower horizontal edges of the wall panels I2. Likewise the horizontal extension .may be grooved as at 4I for the reception of the edges of the oor covering 42. 'I'he horizontal wing extension is preferably provided with openings for the reception of fastening screws 43, by mfeans of which the strips 34 are maintained in' sec/tired position.

Asshown inFigs. 5, 10 and 11, the upper ends of the inner corner strips I are closed by means of metallic cap members 44 which partake of the cross sectional formation of the body 3 of said strips and are retained in place b'y means of integral polygonal shanks 45 which are adapted to be driven into the upper ends of the intermediate grooves I3, the said cap members registering with the molding strips 21. Similar cap members 48 are provided in connection with the upper ends of the outer corner strips, and as shown in Figs. l2

and 13, these cap members are likewise provided with integral multi-sided shanks 41 formed to be firmly driven into the open upper ends of the convex body portions I5 of the strips 2. Similar foot members 48 may be provided at the lower ends of the strips I and 2 for registration with the floor strips 34.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be seen that thej present invention provides frame producing strips which may be readily secured to various types of 4wall surfaces in order to produce an effective, simple and attractive means for retaining panels of composition wall coverings in their applied positions on such wall surfaces. The frame is first directed on the wall surfaces and thepanels of linoleum or other material are carefully cut to conform to the dimensions of the rectangular spaces existing between said strips. By slightly flexing the panels, the marginal edges thereof will be received Iwithin the retaining grooves provided therefor in the metallic strips, the said grooves concealing the edges. of the Wall panels and retaining the latter in their desired wall covering positions. The use of an adhesive on the back surfaces of the wall panelsis of course optional. 'I'he Aframe strips not only serve for the utilitarian purpose of supporting the wall panels but in addition impart to the construction a finished and improved appearance so highly desirable in connection with room walls.

What is claimed is:

1. A's a new article of manufactura an extruded metallic corner strip for mounting wall panels, comprising a pair of longitudinally extending plate-like wings disposed in planes substantially l degrees apart, a transverse web integrally and rigidly uniting said wings contiguous to their adjoining edges, said web being provided with a curved outer surface extending the full length of said Wings, flanges formed with the outer longitudinal edge portions of said web and spaced from said wings to produce longitudinal grooves for the reception of the vertical edge portions of wall panels, said ribs being in wardly spaced from the outer longitudinal edges of said wings so that when said panels are posimounted at one end of said strip, said cap member being formed vwith an attaching shank received withinone of said slots.

2. A metallic frame structure for mounting wall panels comprising vertically and horizontalyly, extending strips, said vertically extending strips each including a longitudinally extending, transversely curvedbody portion, rearwardly arranged, longitudinally extending wall engaging wing plates joined with said body portion near their inner edges, said inner edges being spaced from one another to provide a longitudinally extending slot at the back of said body portion, said horizontal strip-including a longitudinally extending wall engaging plate, a forwardly disposed body portion'coextensive with said plate and joined thereto at its upper edge, a rearwardly extending flange provided at the upper edge of said body portion, and a detachable cap section provided at the upper end of each of said vertical strips, the outer surfaces of said caps conforming in contour to the outer surfaces'of said strips, said caps each-being provided with a shank positioned within the slots in said vertical strips, all of said strips being provided on the opposing edges of said body section with grooves for the reception oi the edges of the wall panels.

3. A; corner frame strip for mounting wall covering panels comprising a longitudinally extending transversely curved body section, a pair of longitudinally extending wall engaging wing l platesfpositioned tothe rear of said body section and joinedvthereto along their inner edges,`

said sections being relatively angularly disposed to each other and having their inner edges spaced from .one another to form a longitudinally ex tending slot at the rear of said body section, flanges formed with the side edges of said body, said flanges being spaced from said wing plates, and a cap member removably positioned at o ne v end of said strip, the upper rear edges of said cap members beingl in substantial registration with the rear faces of said wall engaging wing plates, the front face of said cap -member conforming substantially to the curvature of said body portion. l

4. A metallic frame strip for mounting Wall panels comprising a longitudinally extending wall engaging plate,. a forwardly disposed body portion coextensive with said plate and connected therewith at the upper edge of the latter, a rearwardly directed flange formed at the upper edge of said body portion, the rear edge of said fiange being spaced from and in substantial registration with the rear face of said wall engaging plate, and a downwardly projecting flange formed at the lower edge of said body portion, said last-named flange being spacedvfrom said wall engaging plate.

5. In a metallic frame structure for mounting wall panels, a vertically extending strip having a transversely curved body portion and wall engaging wings formed at the longitudinal side edges thereof, horizontally extending strips positioned at the upper ends of said vertical strip with the lower edge of the body of said horizontal strips in substantially the same plane as the upper end of said vertical strip, the adjoining ends of the horizontal strips being disposed in the same plane as the side edges of the body of said vertical strip whereby a pocket is formed at the upper end of said. vertical strip, and a cap member positioned in said pocket, said cap member constituting a symmetrical continuation of said strips.

6. In a metallic frame structure for mounting wall panels, a pluralityof vertically and horizonl tally extending strips having body portions and wall eng-aging wings, the ends of each strip ter- -minating in planes disposed at right angles to wumunnormam 5, 

